The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) recently awarded Hilltop Views, the student newspaper of St. Edwards's University, a total of 22 awards including third place for overall newspaper excellence. Presented during a TIPA conference held earlier this month in Dallas, Spring 2005 editor Caroline Cohoon took home six awards including three first-place nods in the two-person photo, photo illustration and ad design categories.

Additionally, Fall 2004 Hilltop Views editor Sara Bond was awarded a $2,500 Gridiron Scholarship from the Austin chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. One of three college students to receive the award, Bond also won a 2004 Gridiron scholarship.

Since 1888, Hilltop Views has reported on issues of relevance to students and members of the St. Edward's University community. According to Joe O'Connell, student publications advisor, the awards show the newspaper has benefited from "continued efforts to connect students to outside internship opportunities." Students have gained real-world experience at The Austin American Statesman, Austin Chronicle, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer and the Austin Bureau of People Magazine, among others.

The TIPA awards fall into the following two categories:

• Live contest (TIPA stages a live news "event" for students to cover):

Two-person photo – 1st place, Caroline Cohoon and Sean Johnson

• Previously published contest:

Overall newspaper excellence — 3rd place

Special section (welcome back issue) — 2nd place

Feature page design — 3rd place, Stacee Millangue

Single subject design — 3rd place, Stacee Millangue

Illustration — 1st place, Linda Martinez

Illustration — 3rd place, Linda Martinez

Editorial cartoon — 3rd place, Linda Martinez

Photo illustration — 1st place, Caroline Cohoon

Photo illustration –— 3rd place, Caroline Cohoon and Aimee Milla

Ad design — 1st place, Caroline Cohoon

Picture story — 2nd place, Caroline Cohoon

News feature story — honorable mention, Caroline Cohoon

Sports column — 1st place, Ryan Poulos

Sports feature story — 2nd place, Ryan Poulos

General column — 2nd place, Sofia Resnick

In-depth reporting — 3rd place, Sofia Resnick

In-depth reporting — honorable mention, Sarah Bond

News story — honorable mention, Rachel Connor and Andrey Capel

Headline — 2nd place, Aimee Millangue

Headline — 3rd place, Tory Currier

Sports page design — 2nd place, Tara Zoltek